Easy Ways to Restore Your Driving Record After an Incident

In driver’s education, we are taught how to safely handle a vehicle on the road. We learn the basics but they don’t really tell us what happens if we violate the rules.

In Idaho, we have a point system. If you are caught speeding, you will typically receive 3-4 points on your record. Failure to signal will get you another 3 points and if this all happened while disregarding the safety of someone in the crosswalk, you can go ahead and tack another 3 points onto your record.

Suddenly, your attempt to get your kids to soccer practice on time has turned into a bad day and the consequences can linger around for a few years.

“Once you’ve got that ticket and you’re stuck with it, what do you talk to your insurance professional about? You talk to them and see if a defensive driving class and see if a defensive driving class will help,” said Dave Reichelt, Owner of Nationwide Insurance – Dave Reichelt Agency. “Usually with one ticket, it’s not going to raise your rates tremendously but everything quantifies. Everything is quantifiable and stacks on each other. The better your credit history already, the better your driving history, the less that ticket is going to affect you.”

Under this worst case scenario, the driver would end up with 10 points on their record which would move them within two points of having their license suspended for 30 days. This is scary territory but Dave says there are ways to get back on track.

“My advice to every one of my clients is to go down and get a pretrial hearing when they get a ticket and talk to the prosecuting attorney,” said Reichelt. “Especially if it’s their first ticket in years, or the first ticket they’ve ever had, or their first ticket in five years, because sometimes deals can be made and maybe you can get that ticket wiped out.”

Dave says that one of the best things you can do is get a policy with incident forgiveness. You can find more information at these links.